Chases China Blog

Kho Tao and the journey to get there

Last day in China - SCU MBA China study abroad

So if you read my earlier post, you know what went down for part of the last night. However what happened before that needs to be told. W started the day off with a visit to a stem cell research / premium health clinic for the financially and socially privileged. The presentation felt more like a sales pitch than anything. However, we did learn who their target market was, as well as an idea of what their marketing tactics were. By addressing a lacking supply of quality care, they are able to charge a premium to the upper class. The tour was very strange - ringing of a 5 star hotel with smiling faces everywhere. I’m still skeptical of whether or not their procedures actually work.

Next was our farewell lunch held at a restraint hooked up by bing and her family. We had some great food accompanied by a great view of the bund from the other side of the river. W said our goodbyes to lee and the professor, and Ilya, James, Haley and I head off to try on our suits. M arrive, try them on, and have to have a couple pairs of pants resized. James was actually like spandex. 2 hours and a large Tsing Tao later and we head back to the hotel and pack for the next days travel. That night the SCU MBA c got together at the hotel bar and proceeds to drink up a storm and do karaoke with our buddy and keyboardist who just happened to be from San Jose. I also spoke to a guy named jack who works in the nuclear industry wi Westinghouse. We stayed up until around 2, then hit the sack since James and I had to be up at 5.

Awesome trip guys. I think we all formed some great friendships and our experience will carry through for the rest of our lives.

THAILAND

The next day we meet in the lobby at 5:45 for the car to the airport. 5:55 rolls around and no James, so I call up to the room and guess what? He was still asleep. 10 minutes later he come down looking haggard. We arrive at the airport, say our goodbyes to the other students that road with us, then jet off to Thailand.

W arrive, grab a taxi with a driver that practiced his English with us, then arrive in Bangkok at the primary walking street (the name escapes me). W took in the smells and sights, then grab some delicious grub which wound up costing less than$4 US. next up was a one hour foot/leg/shoulder/arm/back massage on the street in some comfy chairs for $6! A side note, my masseuse had be take off my shirt, which wound up being nice with the hot air and humidity. We then walk around a little more, then park our selves at a restaurant (outside) and took in the sights and smells again. 2 hours, 2 beers, a delicious Thai dinner and $7 US later and we head off once again to shop around. Then comes a sudden downpour of rain, lighting and thunder. The streets flooded within minutes; it was quite the sight!

The rain never let up and we proceed to make our way to the bus that will take us to The ferry. We spoke to a few other travelers, one of which was Dutch who had her bag stollen by a passing scooter in Laos (her arm was bruised). She told us that fellow travelers whom they had never met gave them money so they could pay for new documents and travel to the embassy (people for the most part are good, I’ve come to realize). Another two travelers were from the states and had been in Thailand for a week or so. I didn’t quite get their story but while they were talking, a mouse hid under James bag. I’ve never herd such a squeal come from a man, and we laughed for a good 3 minutes. The bus ride was long the actual bus was killer and I had the pleasure to sit next to a british dive master who gave me the ins and outs of diving. They played 2 fast 2 furious for our “in flight entertainment”. The bus stopped at a strange market so people could buy stuff at like 2am. We arrived at the ferry terminal, watched the sun rise over a gorgeous backdrop, saw a double rainbow, then hopped on the ferry. 2 hours later, we are sitting on the beach on a tinny island in the middle of the Thai gulf. Te rooms are bungalows and we have a third room mate - a gecko. It’s such a change from the cities of Beijing and Shanghai, although I wouldn’t mind living in shanghai for a year or two.

Total travel time from shanghai to Kho Tao ~ 24 hours.
Stay tuned to see if James get a lady boy.